Search Our Catalog

Veteran Items -

Southern Cross of Honor

Item #: AA645

Click on an image to enlarge

Southern Cross of Honor presented to Brigadier General William McComb. The Southern Cross of Honor was created by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and established in 1898. It was bestowed upon Confederate veterans who displayed "Loyal and Honorable service to the South". The medal was first issued in 1900. William McComb was a native of Pennsylvania, but was residing and working in Tennessee at the outbreak of the Civil War. Since his sympathies lay with the south, he enlisted as a Private in the 14th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and was appointed the Regimental Adjutant by Colonel W.A. Forbes. The 14th Tennessee was part of General S.R. Anderson's brigade and took part in the Cheat Mountain campaign and later in Stonewall Jackson's winter campaign to Bath, Hancock and Romney Virginia. McComb was promoted to major during the regiments reorganization of 1862.His unit fought in the battle of Seven Pines and Cedar Run. At the second battle of Manassas McComb became the commander of the 14th Tennessee when Colonel Forbes was killed on September 2, 1862. Colonel McComb was wounded in multiple battles, but always returned to duty as soon as possible. Eventually McComb was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and placed in command of the consolidated brigades of General Archer and General Bushrod Johnson. William McComb survived the war, eventually settled in Virginia and became a farmer. He is buried in Mechanicsville Cemetery in Boswells, Virginia.